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.0. 460,209. Patented Sept.. 29, 1891.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANZ P. MEYENBERG, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE UNITED STATESFIRE PROOFING COMPANY, OE SAME PLACE FIRE-PROOF STRUCTURE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 460,209, datedSeptember 29, 1891.

Application filed April 13,1891. Serial No. 388,798.` (No model.)

To all whom t may 0071.067111,.-

Be it known that I, FRANZ P. MEYENBERG, a resident of Chicago, in thecounty of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Fire-Proof Structures, of which the following ishereby declared to be a full, clear, and exact description, sufficientto enable others skilled in the art to which such invention appert-ainsto make and use the same.

Theinvention relatesto fire-proof structures wherein a series of wirestrands or a mesh fabric is extended over and between contignous beamsof the floor to serve as a support for the intermediate tire-resistantfilling. A slight droop or curve is usually given to the support,notably when a plastic cement or composition is used to fill thebeampocket5 but such droop is ordinarily of greatest descent about thecenter of the pocket-span, and proceeds thence with gradually lesseningdepth toward the tops of the beams. So situated the support for thefilling is not well adapted for use in connection with hollow-tileunless these be widely varied in size and shape (according to the lengthof span, the depth of beam, and the incline of the strand or fabricsupport) to neatly and accurately lill the varying spaces due to thepitch or droop of the support. Even then, if the pocket-spaces below theincline of the support be set with tile, these cannot be directlysustained on such support simply and easily, as oftentimes desired. Toavoid the multiplicity in size and shape of tile-sections and to enablea series of these (nearly uniform in character) to be used as a filling,while yet preserving the distinctive benefits of the strand or fabricsupport for such iilling, is the main object of the invention. To thisend the improvement designs to depress the pocket-support abruptly anddeeply near the beams and to extend the same substantially across thespan of the pocket at such depth. Sufficient margin is allowed forembedding the lower level andthe ends 0f the support in plastic cement.The cement furnishes a yielding bed before setting, in which thetile-sections above can be mounted, and these latter are finally securedby an upper cement slip that covers and incases the tile and unites thesupport and various filling parts thoroughly together to close thepocket-space between theA beams.

The exact nature of the improvements will appear from the descriptionfollowing, and be precisely pointed out by claims at the conclusionthereof.

In the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification,like parts are denoted by like designation throughout.

Figure lis a sectional View of a floor, showing the usual beams withintermediate pocket-fillings constructed according to the invention.Fig. 2 is a similar view exhibiting the llings in course-ofconstruction. Fig. 3 is a 65 perspective view of one of the tile-pieces;Fig.

4, a detail of one of the hook-loops.

The door-beams A, which in the example shown are of the familiarI form,are set in position, as usual, in readiness to receive the 7o lilling inthe pocket-spaces between them. Extending over the tops of the beams Aare a series of stout wire strands a, arranged at suitable distanceapart to properly sustain the loads or strains to which the finishedfloor will be subjected. Ordinarily the several strands a of the seriesare secured together by cross-wires or inter-locks, so as to produce ineffect a compact netting or fabric, which embeds itself thoroughly inthe surrounding 8o plastic composition b. The strand or fabric support ais abruptly bent or dropped downwardly in close relation to the I-beamsA, and extends thence in nearly a horizontal plane along the lower levelof the pocket or span between the beams. The temporary platform B,supported upon the post C, is erected beneath the series of beams andserves to sustain the pocket-fillings until these have becomesufficiently set and hardened. Nails or 9o spikes c may engage with thesupport c and staging B, to better hold the depressed portion ot' thesupport in desired position. Abed of cement slip or plastic compositiond is then thrown into the pocket between the beams unt-il the depressedpart of the wire support a is well covered thereby. While thecomposition is yet plastic, a series of tile D are embedded therein,and,if desired, a set of hooks e, secured to the support a beneath andoverroo lapping the tiles at the top, may be used to better retain thetile-sections in place. IVhen the tile are properly arranged, an uppercement slip f, in plastic condition, is filled into the spaces betweenthe tile support and beams, completely closing the pocket-space andfurnishing a fire-proof floor, which, by reason of the support a, canwithstand very heavy strains. The upper and lower cement or compositionslips d f are preferably of the same general character, and the two areunited with the tile-sections while the composition is yet plastic andgreen A surface iinish at the ceiling and upon the floor above may beapplied, if desired.

The tile-sections D are ordinarily cast in form previous to being used.These can be of baked clayor terra-cotta, although in preferred practiceit is usual to make such casts from a plastic composition of likecharacter with that which is employed for the filling slips or mortars df. By preference the composition should be such as sets or hardensquickly upon exposure, and which is not only tire-resisting, but lightand tenacious and capable of withstanding unusual blows. A compoundconsisting of fibrous material-such as asbestus, sawdust, orcork-incorporated with plaster-of-paris, caustic lime, and hydrauliccement, is quite satisfactory for the purpose. riously combined asfollows: fibrous material,twentyfive to eighty per cent.; hydrauliccement, three to ten per cent.; caustic lime, two to five per cent.,plaster-of-paris, fifteen to twenty per cent. 1

Obviously the shape and size of the tile D can be varied at will,according to the extent of span and the depth of the pocket to befilled. Instead of a number of tile arranged in series, it is clear thata compound tile divided into several compartments or sections can beused, although such structure is inferiorin strength and is otherwiseobjectionable.

The ingredients named may be va- The tile D, being hollow from end toend, af-

fords free air-spaces for circulation, so that the filling dries outrapidly, and by reason of the quick set thus obtained permits the floorto be used much sooner than if the filling were in solid mass.

Changes in detail within the skill of the mechanic to effect may be madewithout departing from the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In fire-proof structures, the combination, with the beams, of theseries of strands or a fabric support extending over said beams andabruptly depressed between and near the same, and a hollowt.ile fillingsustained by said strands or fabric, substantially as described.

2. In [ire-proof structures, the combination, with the beams, of theseries of strands or a fabric support extending over said beams andabruptly depressed between and near the same, a series of hollow tilesmounted above said strands or fabric, and a cement slip embedding saidtiles and support, substantially as described.

3. In fire-proof structures, the combination, with the beams, of theseries of strands or a fabric support extending over said beams andabruptly depressed between and near the same, a lower cement slipembedding the depressed part of said support, a hollow-tile filling setin said slip above the support, andan upper cement slip extendingbetween and about said tiles, whereby the various filling parts andsupport are united together and to the beams, substantially asdescribed.

FRANZ P. MEYENBERG. Witnesses:

W. H. H. YOUNG, JAMES MCOARTHY.

